Mini golf

General

Elliott was good today. 

Activities

After breakfast we went to the Langdale for a while so Andrea could do more funeral organisation. While she worked on arrangements Elliott and I played table tennis in the Country Club there. Then we went for a walk past Elterwater. Elliott took his light sabre again and we had fun looking at the waterfalls in the river along the way:

We also had lunch at a pub along the route and Elliott had garlic bread.

After lunch we drove to Ambleside where we played mini golf in the park there. He really enjoyed the golf and enjoyed (independently) learning how to hit the ball with the golf clubs:

Then Elliott went on a "Dino Adventure" in the upstairs of The Rock Shop in Ambleside. This involved a treasure hunt in a mocked up jungle with Dinosaur models and roars in the background and the treasure was an Ammonite fossil. Then we had fish and chips for tea (and Elliott had chicken nuggets and chips instead) before we popped back to the Langdale for some more table tennis. After we got back to the cottage Elliott had his bath and wrote his diary before watching Ben 10 on the iPad again and then bed time. 

Brockhole Visitor Centre

General

Elliott was really good today and particularly enjoyed our bike ride.

Activities

After breakfast we went to Brockhole Visitor Centre by Lake Windemere where we hired bikes for the morning. We took the bike boat across the lake and went for a bike ride on the other side to Claife Viewing Station and then back towards Wray Castle. At first Elliott was quite tentative riding down hills and worried, but as he practiced using his brakes to regulate his speed he got really confident and was soon really enjoying riding up and down the hills:

When we got to Claife Viewing Station we also stopped for some elevenses:

After our ride we took the bike boat back to Brockhole Visitor Centre and had a picnic lunch by the adventure playground there. Elliott had some fun exploring the adventure playground. On the way back to the cottage we stopped at Ambleside to get some shopping when we got back we had pizza for tea. Then it was time for Elliott's bath and he wrote some more of his diary before watching some Ben 10 on the iPad before bed time.

Inside Out

General

Elliott was good today. He did seem tired after our cinema visit which I think was due to all the swimming earlier in the day so he had an early night.

Activities

After breakfast we went to the Langdale to go swimming which was good fun. As well as the pool there was a jacuzzi, an ice bucket shower and a rain forest shower with hot and cold settings that Elliott enjoyed turning cold while I was sampling it. He also did a lot of swimming as well as having lots of fun splashing around. After swimming we went back to the cottage and had rolls for lunch.

After lunch we drove to Ambleside where we watched Inside Out at Zeffirellis cinema, which was an old fashioned cinema. We all enjoyed Inside Out. After the cinema we headed back home and had spaghetti with meatballs for tea before Elliott wrote some more of his diary, played with his new mini Lego Slave 1 model that came with a Star Wars Lego magazine we bought from Ambleside and we read some more Jack Stalwart. Because he’d had a shower after swimming he just brushed his teeth and washed his face before bed time.

Coniston Water

General

Elliott was good today. During the boat ride he did go a little quiet towards the end but it turned out he needed the toilet. Fortunately there wasn’t much of the trip left and he hung on until we’d got back to shore.

Activities

After breakfast we went to the Langdale so Andrea could finalise some funeral arrangements as they had wi-fi there. Elliott and I played pinball on the public computers there and we also explored the swimming pool and spa area. He also spoke to you on the phone. After Andrea had finished we drove to Coniston Water where we had a picnic lunch by the lake.

After lunch we were hoping to hire bikes so we could go on a bike ride by the lake, but unfortunately they didn’t have any bikes left to hire. So instead we went on a boat ride around the river where we saw the site of Donald Campbell’s Bluebird water speed records and eventual demise, the island from Swallows and Amazon and lots of people boating and water skiing:

After the boat ride we popped in to the Bluebird café by the lake for tea and cake before heading back to the Langdale for Andrea to do some more organising. We also ate at the Langdale and Elliott had macaroni cheese. After we got back to the cottage Elliott had a bath, wrote some more in his diary and we read some more Jack Stalwart before bed time.

Wray Castle

General

Elliott was really good today.

Activities

After breakfast we drove to Wray Castle via Langdale where we had some coffees and Elliott and I played a game of pool. Wray Castle was a brilliant castle by Lake Windemere which had loads of rooms geared up for children and a really good adventure playground: 

We took the light sabres and had lots of light sabre fights both in the castle and in the grounds. We also had a picnic lunch by the castle and Elliott had ham and cheese rolls with bear fruit.

After lunch we walked down to Lake Windemere from the castle and saw lots of boats and canoes and even someone water skiing:

After that we drove back to the cottage and Elliott had a bath and wrote some more of his diary before chicken fajita tea. Then we headed out to the Langdale club as they have Sky television and we watched some of the Arsenal verses Liverpool game together as a treat with Elliott supporting Arsenal and me supporting Liverpool and some classic banter. After we got back it was straight to bed for Elliott because it was a little late.

Ambleside

General

Elliott was mostly good today, although he did get a little sulky when we were looking around some shops in Ambleside because he wanted me to buy him some expensive Star Wars model kits which I didn’t buy. However after a quick chat he cheered up again.

Activities

After breakfast we drove to Ambleside to explore and see what was there. It’s a beautiful, small town with some independent shops and lots of camping and hiking gear shops. We also noticed a very nice cinema called Zeffirellis which we thought may come in handy later in the week. After nosing about for a while we went to the White Lion hotel for lunch and Elliott had chicken nuggets with rice.

After lunch we did some food shopping and then we headed home via the local spa and country club Langdale which our cottage has a membership of. This looked very swish and had a nice swimming pool which we also thought might come in handy later in the week as well as a pool table and a table tennis table. After we got back to the cottage we went for a walk from our village to nearby Elterwater lake (about a mile there and a mile back). We took the light sabres and had some battles along the way which was good fun and Elliott was full of energy and enjoyed the seeing sheep and other wildlife along the walk, including a small snake slithering across the path:

On our way back we stopped at the local pub for a drink and Elliott had Appletiser and then it started to rain so we ran back and he got straight in the bath before a ham and cheese toastie for tea. Then he wrote a diary entry and we read some Jack Stalwart together before bed time.

Chapel Stile

General

Elliott was really good today considering what a long drive it is to the Lake District.

Activities

We left quite early and during the car journey Elliott played on his tablet and watched some Deadly 60 and Dennis the Menace on the iPad. We stopped at a service station for a packed lunch and Elliott had ham and cheese rolls.

We arrived at our cottage in Chapel Stile, near Langdale and Ambleside at about 5pm. Elliott’s bedroom was downstairs by the lounge and he was excited by his room and the fact it had 2 beds. After we’d unpacked we had Spaghetti Bolognese for tea. After tea we explored the village a little bit and then it was time for Elliott’s bath and bed time. Just before bed time it started raining really heavily and Elliott liked watching the rain through his window as I read him some more Jack Stalwart.

The Caper of the Crown Jewels

General 

Elliott was good after he arrived.

Activities

We played with his new double light sabre after we got home and then it was bath time. After his bath we read some of his Jack Stalwart "The Caper of the Crown Jewels" book together and then it was time for bed.

Dentist and haircut

General 

Elliott was really good today especially considering he had a haircut and dental check up.   

Activities

In the morning, after some playing with Transformers, we went in to Wokingham where we both got hair cuts. Elliott had his hair styled with gel and looked like a footballer. He also enjoyed watching me have my ear hair burnt off with a flaming cotton bud. We went home for lunch and had burgers and chips while we watched the film version of Paddington which he enjoyed.

After lunch we went to the Dentists and he had a check up. The Dentist used tools in his mouth to count his teeth and then cleaned his teeth and he didn't flinch and was really good. She did say he needs to clean his teeth for a bit longer each time (at least 2 minutes) now he has some grown up teeth so we're now timing teeth cleaning with the phone. After we got home we watched some Dragons and he had toast for tea before bath time and an extra long time brushing his teeth. After his bath we read another chapter of his new, London based Jack Stalwart book together and he watched 10 minutes of iPad again before bed time. 

Cricket

General 

Elliott was good again today.   

Activities

We had another lazy morning and Elliott played with Lego and Star Wars toys and watching his Scooby Doo DVD. We had pasta with tomato and ham sauce for lunch with some garlic bread as well.

After lunch we went to the park and played cricket and Elliott played on the equipment. We both had fun and it was good to be outside in the nice weather. On the way home we popped in to The Ship for the second half of the Liverpool verses Stoke game and Elliott watched Shaun the Sheep on his iPad and had some sparkling apple juice. After we got home he had ham and cheese toasties for tea and then a bath. After his bath we started reading a new Jack Stalwart book together before he watched 10 minutes of iPad before bed time. 

Lego Star Wars Geonosis Troopers

General 

Elliott was good today.   

Activities

We had a lazy morning unpacking, playing with Match Attax cards, looking at Elliott's new Elliott Spencer Match Attax card (ordered online) and watching some Deadly 60.

After a snack lunch we went to Tescos shopping and Elliott bought a new Lego Star Wars Geonosis Troopers set and a Lego Star Wars magazine with his pocket money. After we got home he made his new set and the mini X-Wing Fighter that came free with the magazine and we had spaghetti bolognese for tea. Then it was bath, some iPad watching EvanTubeHD and then it was bed time. 

Pedalo

General 

Elliott was mainly good today, although he did get upset out of proportion at one stage about not being able to plant cricket stumps into the ground. We had a chat about whether it was worth being upset about and he did agree he had over reacted.   

Activities

In the morning we headed back to Sheffield and spent the morning at a farm and park with Ethan and Victoria. We looked at the animals and then played more cricket and tennis before having a picnic lunch and then having a go on a bouncy castle slide that was in the park as well:

Elliott enjoyed playing with Ethan, who is about the same age as Libby, and was really good with him. Although at one stage he did wonder why Ethan couldn't play cricket properly.

After lunch we said our goodbyes and then headed off home. We stopped at Millhouses Park on the way for some more cricket and tennis but also to have a go on a pedalo in the boating lake there which was good fun. On our way home we stopped at a McDonalds for tea. After we got home it was straight to bed for Elliott with a quick chapter of Jack Stalwart to help him go to sleep quickly.

Uncle Jim

General 

Elliott had an upset tummy after breakfast that lasted for a few hours. He was a bit upset by this. Fortunately it didn't last long and we were off to the park just before lunch time.   

Activities

In the morning, after his upset tummy, we headed off to Millhouses Park in Sheffield where we played cricket and football. After about an hour my cousin Tim joined us and helped us play cricket:

After the sport we had sandwiches for lunch.

After lunch we went to visit my Uncle Jim in his nursing home in the afternoon. He was in good spirits and having a good day and was pleased to see us. Elliott was really well behaved and played with Match Attax cards and his Rubix Snake while we were talking and also joined in. After our visit we headed off to Baslow to stay with Tim overnight and stopped at The Wheatshief pub in Baslow for tea where Elliott had chicken dippers, chips and beans for tea. 

Sheffield

General 

Elliott was good again today.   

Activities

In the morning we packed up after breakfast and headed to the station to drop Tom and Andrea off before we went back to Liverpool and had a look at where my Grandma used to live and I used to visit when I was Elliott's age. Then we headed off to Sheffield to visit my cousin Victoria (and Pete and Ethan). We stopped for lunch on the way and had some sandwiches.

After we arrived in Sheffield we headed to the local park with Victoria and Ethan and Elliott played on the equipment with Ethan and we played cricket and football together. After the park it was time for tea and he had a pepperoni pizza before bath time, another chapter of Jack Stalwart and bed time. 

Anfield

General 

Elliott was good again today.   

Activities

In the morning after breakfast we headed out in to the grounds of Tom's accommodation and played tennis. Then we drove to Liverpool and went on the Anfield stadium tour and had a look round the Liverpool museum. Elliott enjoyed the tour but said he thought Arsenal stadium was better:

After the tour we went to a small community café opposite the ground for lunch which was really nice and Elliott had a ham and cheese toastie and a large slice of chocolate cake.
 
After lunch we went to the Albert Docks and visited The Beatles Story. Elliott listened to the guide narration for the exhibition on headphones quite intently and he definitely found some of the exhibition interesting, particularly the Yellow Submarine section. After the Beatles Story we wandered around the Dock before having tea in Pizza Express where he had his normal dough balls, pasta burro and chocolate brownie. When we got back to Tom's accommodation we played cricket for a while outside before he got ready for bed and we read another Jack Stalwart chapter together.

Monkey Forest

General 

Elliott was really good today, especially considering we had a long car journey.  

Activities

In the morning we set off to visit Tom Bell in St Helens. Elliott watched Big Hero 6 and some episodes of Deadly 60 during the car journey. At lunchtime we stopped at the Monkey Forest in Trentham Gardens near Stoke for a picnic lunch. The monkeys here are in a big enclosure within which they can roam free and we wandered around looking at the monkeys up close which we all found interesting. Next to the picnic area there was also an adventure playground so Elliott was able to stretch his legs after the journey:

After our visit we drove the final part of the journey to St Helens and after unpacking went for tea in a local pub to Tom where Elliott had pizza and garlic bread. Before bed time we read another chapter of his Jack Stalwart book together.

Match Attax

General 

Elliott was really good after he arrived.

Activities

He showed us his Match Attax binder and cards and then it was bath time. After his bath we read some of his Jack Stalwart book together and then it was time for bed.